30A fuse in a strange place?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
GreenLove

GreenLove

New Member
Posts
430
Location
Carmarthenshire, South Wales
Have just had a look through the fuse box on my 200Tdi (1992) and discovered something strange.

In input #3 (see pic below), which I presume is the fuse for the rear wipers (front too?) and reverse light, there's supposed to be a 15A fuse, but I've just found a 30A fuse!

Can this be correct and does this present a danger? My reversing light isn't working but the front wipers are.

I'm no electronics expert btw, so please, be gentle :)


fuse.jpg
 
Change it immediately for a 15A. The wiring won't be able to cope with 30A, but is most likely that the 15A one went and the previous owner only had a 30A spare.
 
Rev light switch is easy to change and only a fiver from e bay, if middle seat removed you can see it easily.


Lynall
 
The fuses are there to protect the equipment, which is why they have different ratings. If the circuit is designed to have a 15A fuse, then that's what should be there!

Would you put a 13A fuse in your PC mains plug, when it is rated at 3A??

Change it immediately, otherwise there could be a nasty smell of something expensive burning!!
 
Oldseadog said:
The fuses are there to protect the equipment, which is why they have different ratings. If the circuit is designed to have a 15A fuse, then that's what should be there!

Would you put a 13A fuse in your PC mains plug, when it is rated at 3A??

Change it immediately, otherwise there could be a nasty smell of something expensive burning!!
Click to expand...

Best to be safe hey. The previous owner changed the bulkhead, so I thought he might have rewired the fuse box at the same time and chosen 30A for a reason. but I can't think of anything that needs that much juice in the car. Regardless of why, I'll add a 15A now.

Out of interest, if, for example, spare input #20 recommends 15A and I wire in a device that only runs on 10A, would I need to change the wiring running into that input to accommodate or can I simply just change to 10A and plug in the device? In other words, can the recommended amperage (as indicated on the fuse box cover) for each input be ignored, providing you install the right amperage fuse for the device?

I'm so crap at explaining things sometimes :alien:
 
GreenLove said:
Out of interest, if, for example, spare input #20 recommends 15A and I wire in a device that only runs on 10A, would I need to change the wiring running into that input to accommodate or can I simply just change to 10A and plug in the device? In other words, can the recommended amperage (as indicated on the fuse box cover) for each input be ignored, providing you install the right amperage fuse for the device?
Click to expand...

As long as you're going from a high ampage to lower the wiring will be fine - just use the correct fuse as you say

I wouldn't change a 5 ampo fuse for a 20 amp one without checking the wiring thickness!
 
Station House said:
As long as you're going from a high ampage to lower the wiring will be fine - just use the correct fuse as you say

I wouldn't change a 5 ampo fuse for a 20 amp one without checking the wiring thickness!
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I suspected in the dark, lost recesses of my logical mind.

Thanks for the advice.

P.S. just swapped the 30A for the 15A. Feeling better already.
 
Station House said:
As long as you're going from a high ampage to lower the wiring will be fine - just use the correct fuse as you say

I wouldn't change a 5 ampo fuse for a 20 amp one without checking the wiring thickness!
Click to expand...

Station, I'm also about to remove the lining in the rear of the cab, and glue/permanently secure some insulated silver foil and carpet to the top and sides. There's currently an interior light on the roof, but I'd like to add two more, one of each side.

So before I glue the foil, I'd like to run some wires for each additional light, to be connected at a later date. Would you happen know what the correct interior light wire would be?

Thanks for all the help.
 
Oldseadog said:
1.5mm multicore should be perfectly adequate.

As far as cabling is concerned, it's OK to go bigger but not OK to go smaller as it might melt!

Apart from which, you might want to upgrade at some point in the future.
Click to expand...

I see. So it's not dangerous to have a lead that is capable of supplying more current, only if it's not big enough to support the desired current?

Will this do it?
 
GreenLove said:
Sorry for the stupid question, but what does twin core mean exactly? Does it simply mean two insulated power cables in one line?
Click to expand...

Yes, twin core is two cables essentially joined together

If you want to use the cable Sean recommended, Ref 11 will be more than fine.

To be honest the Maplins cable I linked you to will be fine, or Halfords sell spools of electrical cable but slightly more expensive
 
Last edited:
Station House said:
Yes, twin core is two cables essentially joined together

If you want to use the cable Sean recommended, Ref 11 will be more than fine.

To be honest the Maplins cable I linked you to will be fine, or Halfords sell spools of electrical cable but slightly more expensive
Click to expand...

Great guns. Thanks for your assistance Station - I'll PM you with pics of hair standing on end, frazzled fingers and a look of shock on my mug in a few weeks time.
 
GreenLove said:
Great guns. Thanks for your assistance Station - I'll PM you with pics of hair standing on end, frazzled fingers and a look of shock on my mug in a few weeks time.
Click to expand...
Which will mean that you have used the wrong size of wire and the fuse is to big!! :D:D:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Discovery1 lt230 in place of LT230R from a 12D?
Replies
3
Views
1K
MrF
M
N
Front wiper/reverse light 15A fuse on 1989 200TDI
Replies
5
Views
1K
NA1961
N
G
Brake Light Fuse Blowing - Defender 2000 Td5
Replies
6
Views
4K
lynall
L
jimllshiftit
Odd electric problems 1992 200tdi 90
Replies
18
Views
2K
jimllshiftit
jimllshiftit
S
Indicator fuse (15A) blowing
Replies
0
Views
2K
Selseymech
S
Back
Top